Rūta Meilutytė is the greatest sensation ever lived.
This European Championship might not have happened, Rūta Meilutytė’s swimming might not have happened at all, but she once again managed to surprise everyone. Or maybe even herself, presenting another wonderful spectacle to Lithuanian swimming fans and the Paris audience, who filled the 5,000-seat stands of the Olympic Water Center to capacity for the seventh evening in a row.
The spectators in the 50-meter pool cheered when the fierce 50 m breaststroke final began, where the 29-year-old Lithuanian was among the favorites this time, but not the brightest, as there were faster swimmers in the heats and semifinals.
But when the final comes, the champion’s character shines the most.
R. Meilutytė managed to swim even faster in the final than in the other stages and snatched the gold in a very dramatic race right up to the finish.
29.93 sec. – Rūta Meilutytė
29.94 sec. – Italian Benedetta Pilato
29.95 sec. – Irish Mona McSharry
Emotions burst out like a fountain after the finish, when R. Meilutytė happily splashed water, and soon happily arrived in the interview area.
– Rūta, what did you experience immediately after the finish?
– The biggest surprise and joy. And strange, because it is important, but at the same time not important. But I am very happy to have fulfilled the process. Lots of happiness, that moment… Just wow! It was very fun.
– Probably even in your long career, this is the first victory won by such minimal differences that decided the gold?
– Maybe, I don’t know. It was very interesting because I didn’t expect it much, because at the finish I thought Pilato touched me, as we were both very close. It was very nice.
– The emotions that burst out immediately after the finish – is it like something rolled off?
– I don’t know, I wouldn’t want to analyze emotions now, because you have to enjoy it while it lasts, because it comes, goes, and disappears.
So very nice, happy, a lot of work was put in. Just a combination of everything, joy with the team, with loved ones.
– Did you feel when you jumped into the water that it could be good?
– I have felt good since the very first stage. I knew it would be good, I felt good, so the goal was to fulfill the swim.
– What does the gold medal shining on your chest mean?
– It is a symbol of this long journey.
– A few minutes with the Lithuanian National Anthem playing. Where were your thoughts at that time?
– No, no, there were no thoughts. I was in the moment, singing and trying not to mix up the words, I don’t know if I succeeded.
– This preparation was unusual, can you now turn back time and say if there were doubts about participating in the European Championship?
– I would say there were no thoughts that I would participate. They appeared later.
– Did the desire to swim return?
– Yes. It just happens like that. There were even thoughts that maybe I wouldn’t swim anymore. But now I understand that I shouldn’t think (laughs).
– That ringing National Anthem probably carries ageless emotions?
– Yes, although the perception of the country changes as you go through life. But inside I am always Lithuanian, our country is always dear to me, and the anthem is dear, and the people. It is something special.
– How much do you think the champion’s character matters in such competitions? There were faster swimmers in the heats and semifinals, but when the decisive fight comes, the champion returns.
– I don’t know if this is the champion’s character. I don’t know what it is, maybe we understand it differently. The main thing is to do everything well. It depends on how much you love the craft, how you can fulfill it. I don’t think about medals, because the champion’s title is a burden. I prefer mastery more.
– Is that why you said at the beginning “maybe it is important, or maybe not”?
– Yes, because what does it mean? It means nothing. But at the same time it means something. It’s a paradox. At least that’s what I think.
– This is a big celebration for many Lithuanians. What are you most happy about?
– I would really like to thank my family, my wonderful brothers, relatives. Just everyone who supports me, who is close, who takes care of my dog, greetings to the children from Vilijampolė.
Lots of love, lots of gratitude – it’s good to share it on this path. So everything is important and not important at the same time.
– How do you evaluate the entire Lithuanian team’s performance at the European Championship?
– The Lithuanian team is getting stronger. It is very good to see so many of our swimmers in the finals, yesterday in the relay we were fourth, but behind us were such big and strong swimming countries as Italy, France, Spain. That is very strong for a small country like Lithuania. But we always show the world that we are small but strong.
It is very good to see a good atmosphere in the team, we are moving in a very good direction, I am very proud.
– Are your near plans clear?
– Nothing is clear.
– And what about the 50 m breaststroke event at the 2028 Olympic Games?
– I don’t know, maybe. We’ll see (laughs). I really don’t know. I don’t know what will happen in a month.
A different preparation
This was R. Meilutytė’s third start at this European Championship.
On Saturday morning, the Kaunas native appeared in competition for the first time this year, finishing third in the heats (30.21 sec.), and on the same evening – third in the semifinals (30.05 sec.).
R. Meilutytė holds the cosmic world record set at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka (29.16 sec.), but after winning her fourth consecutive gold medal at the world championships last year, she slightly reduced her swimming training intensity.
This year, the Lithuanian national team coaches learned about R. Meilutytė’s decision to participate in the European Championship only at the beginning of June, already halfway through the season, and Rūta decided to prepare for the competition in Paris independently this time, without a permanent coach.
“I felt that the time had come to do what I have been doing for a very, very long time myself. It naturally turned out to be such an evolution,” R. Meilutytė explained after the semifinals when asked about the decision to prepare independently.
Understand instantly
Navikonis, who lost his rivals on the way to the silver finish, was amazed at himself: “This is space”
Why did it fail? Our fastest swimming sprinters were looking for answers in the Paris pool
Rūta Meilutytė, who reached the final, received encouragement: “If you swim well, you’ll get a cake”
Successful championship for the team
R. Meilutytė’s swim ended the Lithuanian national team’s performance at the seven-day European Championships.
For the record number of athletes (19), the team brought waves of emotions, but mostly positive, as many solid results and national records were achieved.
Tomas Navikonis won his first medal of such rank, taking silver with an impressive finish in the 200 m freestyle final, and before that, he twice improved the Lithuanian record in the 100 m freestyle competition.
16-year-old Ieva Jurkūnaitė announced herself to Europe by twice improving the national 200 m freestyle record, reaching the final herself and helping the team to take fourth place in the mixed relay.
Six finals were reached, including five in individual events, and several Lithuanian records were also improved.
